Strange Fruit by Lillian Smith, First Edition, 1944

Lillian Smith

First Edition

Smith, Lillian. Strange Fruit. Cornwall: Cornwall Publishing, 1944. First edition, sixth printing. 371 pages. Bound in navy blue cloth hardcovers with yellow and white lettering. HOUSED IN ORIGINAL BLACK DUSTJACKET FEATURING A WHITE ILLUSTRATION of a large tree and yellow title letterinG. sTRANGE fRUIT is a 1944 best-seling debut novel by American author Lillian Smith that deals with the then-forbidden and controversial theme of interracial romance set in Georgia. In her 1956 autobiography, singer Billie Holiday claimed that Smith named the book after her 1939 song "Strange Fruit," about lynching and anti-Black racism. Smith maintained the book's title referred to the "damaged and twisted people (both Black and white) who are the products or results of our racist culture." The book also deals with the issue of the sexual exploitation of African-American women. After the book's release, it was banned in Boston and Detroit for "lewdness" and crude language. Strange Fruit was also banned from mailing through the U.S. Postal Service until Franklin D. Roosevelt interceded at Eleanor Roosevelt's request. Original Dustjacket present but bears some waviness and worn at edges. Overall good condition only.

Item #19200

Price: $225.00